The Victorian government is set to spend more than $600,000 to build more than 15 new electric vehicle charging stations in north western Victorian towns.
The charging stations will be built in rural centres including Ouyen, Swan Hill, Kerang, Maryborough and Echuca, as well as smaller rural towns and key tourist sites.
Minister for Energy, the Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio said the $664,000 investment would help to to better link towns across Victoria and encourage more visitors to the region.
“The new electric vehicle charging stations will put this region on the map for electric vehicles – connecting Melbourne to Mildura and unlocking north west Victoria for electric vehicle tourists and locals alike,” said Ms D’Ambrosio.
“More Victorians will be driving electric vehicles in the future, that’s why we’re building the infrastructure to meet this demand.”
She said charging stations would expand green tourism opportunities in regional Victoria, with the ultimate aim of creating a green power charging network across Australia.
The Minister said the new sites had been identified as priority locations in the Charging the Regions report undertaken by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and local governments.
“This new funding builds on the $3 million already invested by the Victorian Government to setup 30 electric vehicle charging stations across Victoria in Euroa, Barnawartha North, Moe, Torquay, Ballarat, Horsham and Melbourne,” she said.
“The increased uptake of electric vehicles has clear benefits for local communities, and building these stations will create local jobs and deliver an important economic boost for Victoria’s north west,” said Member for Northern Victoria, Mark Gepp.
“Building charging stations in regional areas will boost tourism, reduce carbon emissions and help us build a cleaner, more sustainable future.”
The Victorian Government is currently developing a Zero Emissions Vehicle Roadmap, to be released later this year.
Ms D’Ambrosio said the document would provide a roadmap for transitioning to zero emissions vehicles and supported the state’s goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.